Unej Anthropologist Dissects Corruption-Oligarchy Disease in MegatRuh Book
The term MegatRuh is taken from Javanese macapat poetry, meaning the soul’s release from the body. It serves as a metaphor for concerns over Indonesian democracy on the verge of a living death.
Jember, East Java (ANTARA) - Anthropologist and senior lecturer at the University of Jember (Unej), Andang Subaharianto, dissected issues of corruption and oligarchy through his latest book titled MegatRuh Indonesia: Reflections on 25 Years of Reformasi during a podcast event on campus on Friday.
Andang explained that his work is not merely academic writing but a critical reflection on the nation’s condition, which he assesses as experiencing a disconnection between state institutions and the foundational values that should underpin them.
“The term MegatRuh is taken from Javanese macapat poetry, meaning the soul’s release from the body. It becomes a metaphor for anxiety over Indonesian democracy on the verge of a living death,” he stated.
According to him, Indonesia is currently in a phase of involution, a condition where democracy appears to change in form but stagnates in quality due to lingering feudal mentalities and practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN).
“State institutions have changed, but their soul remains feudal. As a result, KKN has not disappeared but has grown stronger,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of intellectuals’ role in driving change through debates in public spaces.
“The power of intellectuals is key. Do not let intellectual spaces fall silent,” he stated.
The discussion also featured views from academics across disciplines at Unej’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences. One concept discussed was corporatocracy, the dominance of corporate interests in state policies that gives birth to oligarchy.
Additionally, the book addresses sociological aspects through the essay “Dark Indonesia,” which highlights dynamics of the social contract and political language practices that often obscure fundamental issues.
Indonesian Literature expert Zahratul Umniyyah described the phenomenon as reflecting a tendency to silence public voices in state practices.
Meanwhile, Television and Film Studies expert Romdhi Fatkhur Rozi views the book as a form of intellectual resistance amid digital era dynamics.
He emphasised the importance of intellectuals in maintaining the quality of public discourse to prevent haphazard policy-making.
Through the book, Andang hopes to encourage critical awareness, especially among the younger generation, to actively engage in preserving democratic quality.